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Thursday, November 30, 2006

The NASCAR 2006 season may have finished, but two-time champion Tony Stewart is set to hit it just as big on radio as the track.In a career with moments that were often cutting as well as caustic, Tony Stewart Live, is set to premiur on Sirius Satellite Radio. "I'd be foolish not to be nervous," said Stewart who will cohost the show with NASCAR TV reporter Matt Yocum.The show will air weekly, beginning in January on Sirius channel 128, the network's new 24-hour home of NASCAR.To read more on the loveable, but outspoken Stewart, please refer to:http://www.usatoday.com/sports/motor/nascar/2006-11-29-stewart-radio_x.htm?csp=34Good luck to Tony and Matt !!

NEWINGTON, CT, Nov 28, 2006 -- The first of two planned DXpeditions to rare Lakshadweep Islands (VU7)is set to start December 1. A team sponsored by theAmateur Radio Society of India (ARSI) -- theInternational Amateur Radio Union (IARU)member-society for India -- plans to operate as VU7LDfrom Kavaratti Island.

Meanwhile, a second announced foray to the second most-wanted DXCC entity hasreturned to its original plans to commence inmid-January instead of December, thus avoiding thepotential for on-air chaos. ARSI says it has permission from India's telecommunication and military authorities to operate from December 1 until December 30. "The plans for this expedition are well under way, and we are assembling together around 25 Indian radio operators who have a proven record of operating in'pile up' conditions on all modes, so that the poor propagation conditions are utilized to the maximum,"the DXpedition's Web site reports. ARSI says VU7LD --the actual call sign could change -- will operate onall HF bands on CW, SSB and digital modes. A DXpedition under the auspices of the NationalInstitute for Amateur Radio (NIAR), will kick off with a three-day hamfest January 15, and the DXpedition will continue for approximately 10 days.

The NIAR DXpedition plans to operate as VU7RG, in honor of thelate Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, VU2RG. "We are pleased to inform that the Ministry ofnCommunications and Information Technology, Departmentof Telecommunications, WPC wing has released the first list of special permission issued to foreign hams holding Indian Amateur Radio licenses to operate Amateur Radio stations from Bangaram, Kadmat andAgathi in Lakshadweep Islands," Rama Mohan, VU2MYH, said in a November 22 statement on the VU7RG Web site."Until today a total of 33 DX hams have beenofficially approved for the VU7RG operation!"

The NIAR operation could include as many as 50 radio amateurs from India and elsewhere. NIAR says the "well-known, experienced operators"staffing all three operating sites will "work closely together to avoid multiple stations on the air using overlapping frequencies." Concerns arose within the DX community in October after NIAR rescheduled its event from January toDecember, and it appeared the two DXpeditions wouldhave multiple stations on the air simultaneously onvarious HF bands and modes at least during the first part of the month. NIAR organized and sponsored a DXpedition and hamfest-conference in the AndamanIslands (VU4) earlier this year. Part of the Laccadive Islands, Lakshadweep -- the smallest union territory of India -- is located in theArabian Sea some 200 to 300 km off the southwesterncoast of India. The territory marks its 50th anniversary this year.(Source: http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2006/11/28/103/?nc=1/)(Jaisakthivel Chennai, India/HCDX)

WBNY:6925u 24 Nov. 06. Time: 2101-2106*. The last fiveminutes of the broadcast. Several IDs as WBNY-Rabbit Radio Mentionof this being a special bx from Rodent Revolution HQ. Off with"Peter Cottontail". Fair. (Wood, TN).6925u WBNY. Date: 24 Nov. 06. Time: 2101-2106*. The last five

WHYP:6925/U, 2127-2155*, 16-Nov; James & Abe Brownyard w/Xmas-Hannu-kah Special; Niel Wolfish got run over by George Zeller; Voice& CW IDs. SIO-353, excellent at 1st but got mushy after about2135. Right into Radio BINGO @2155. (Frodge-MI)

Burundi authorities detained the head of a private radio station today over the broadcasting of information deemed to threaten state and public security, officials said. The arrest of Matthias Manirakiza, the head of Radio Isanganiro, brings to three the number of journalists working for private media to be arrested in a week in connection with a vaguely defined coup plot.“Magistrates have decided to detain the director of Radio Isanganiro, Mr Manirakiza, at the central Mpimba prison for authorising the broadcast of information that can threaten state and public security,” said Raphael Gahungu, Manirakiza’s lawyer. Manirakiza was detained a day after authorities grilled two journalists from the private Radio Public Africaine for allegedly divulging information about an ongoing probe into the coup plot against Burundi’s year-old government.“Manirakiza’s fate had been determined beforehand,” Gahungu said. “It was evident from the number of police officers sent here and the denial of access to journalists at the court.”Manirakiza was driven straight to prison after being interrogated by judicial officers for nearly three hours. In August, his station said that police had prepared a fake attack at the presidential palace to back claims of the alleged putsch, for which the country’s former president Domitien Ndayizeye and six other high-ranking politician have been detained.“The government is brazenly violating the law. This government is no longer hiding that it wants to silence private radios that denounce the numerous abuses committed in this country,” Frank Kaze, the head of Burundi’s journalists’ union, told AFP. “We are asking the international community to pressure the government so that justice can be done,” he added.The Bujumbura government has come under fire since it launched a crackdown in August against those suspected to be behind the ill-defined coup, with some observers saying it is becoming increasingly intolerant of criticism. Last week, five private radio stations muted their news broadcasts to protest the detention of the two journalists detained for allegedly breaching judicial and state secrecy by reporting on the coup.(Source: AFP/R Netherlands Media Network Weblog)

Radio France Internationale (RFI) began broadcasting on FM in Kuwait today under an agreement between the two countries. The agreement, signed by Kuwait’s information ministry and RFI chief executive officer Antoine Schwarz, allows the radio station to broadcast around the clock in French and English. The signing coincided with the departure of Emir Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmed Al Sabah to France on a six-day official visit for talks with President Jacques Chirac.

Schwarz said that Kuwait has become the only Arab country to launch the RFI service, which will serve between 10,000 and 15,000 French speakers, including about 1,000 nationals of France, living in the Gulf state. It is the second French radio station to broadcast in Kuwait after Radio Monte Carlo that began its service in Arabic in May 2004.

The BBC and US-government’s radio Sawa both broadcast in Arabic to Kuwait, while the Voice of America and a couple of US army stations also air programmes in English.

4876, La Cruz del Sur, La Paz was checked several times in Peru and Bolivia, Nov 14-20, but it was definately off the air on this frequency! However, in La Paz it was heard clearly on 720 MW with ID 0128, Nov 20. (Petersen)

9524.96 Voice of Indonesia, 1030-1100 UT Noted local music with comments between tunes by a woman. Believe she announced whatever it was she announced, in Mandarin? I find it curious that China is not blocking this freq with their "Firedrake" signal, since Mandarin is schedule for this half hour according to a schedule I gleaned from the web. Just a thought. Signal was armchair here in Clewiston. (Chuck Bolland-USA, hcdx Nov 21)

I'm glad you managed to hear RRI Jakarta on 11860 kHz. As I said, it puts in a really good signal to W.A. It is quite amazing how a single shortwave transmitter can cover a wide area.(Barry Hartley-NZL, wwdxc BC-DX Nov 21)(Source: WWDXC-Top News, BC DX#783)

Vatican Radio has a number of special live broadcasts on mediumwave, shortwave and satellite during the visit of Pope’s historic visit to Turkey, which started today and continues until Friday 1 December. Full details of these broadcasts can be found on thehttp://www.vaticanradio.org/CoorPro/entrasmisspec.htm(Source: R Netherlands Media Network Weblog)

Tuesday, November 28, 2006

Listeners to Radio Sweden and SR International in Stockholm will probably see some major changes next year, including the disappearance of relays of BBC World Service and National Public Radio.Swedish Radio’s management has announced the changes in channel structure resulting from months of studies into the future of public service radio in this country. The result is a restructuring of channels in Stockholm, with no changes in the rest of the country.Most domestic press coverage has concerned the allocation of the two transmitters carrying the local outlet Radio Stockholm, which is part of the national P4 local radio network. The P4 network, which is Sweden’s most popular radio channel, offers windows for local stations, a number of national programs, including extensive sports commentaries and coverage.Currently the transmitter on 93.8 MHz carries the national P4 program, with local Radio Stockholm cut-outs. The other transmitter, on 103.3 MHz, called P5, is a Radio Stockholm pop station, aimed at a younger audience.Under the proposal, the programming on 93.8 MHz would switch to the more powerful transmitter on 103.3 MHz. There is to be new programming on 93.8 MHz aimed at a “international and multi-cultural large city audience”. It’s unclear what this means, but it seems that some of the current world music programming on the digital (DAB and web) radio station SR Sverige may be deployed.There are also major changes proposed for the classical music channel P2 and Radio Sweden’s local P6 transmitter in Stockholm on 89.6 MHz. P2 nationally is mostly classical music, but also carries programming in immigrant languages and from Swedish Educational Broadcasting. Many years ago, then Swedish Radio Director General Ove Joanson moved this programming off the P2 transmitter in Stockholm, creating a 24 hour classical channel. The immigrant language programs switched to share 89.6 with Radio Sweden (followed a few years later by the two departments merging in organization as well), and educational radio programming moved to the local P4 transmitter.Now the current Director General, Peter Örn, is breaking up the 24 hour classical station. P2’s audience figures are miniscule, and there had been rumors the channel would be switched to the Internet-only, which resulted in loud protests from Sweden’s cultural elite.Instead, P2 in Stockholm will once again carry the national programming, with immigrant languages and educational radio. But when the channel is not carrying classical music, there is to be classical music on 89.6 MHz, so Stockholmers will in theory have 24 hours access to classical music radio.There will be other major changes on 89.6. It will carry reruns of the immigrant language programs already broadcast on P2. Radio Sweden programming, already cut back severely at the beginning of the year, will be limited to single relays of our programs in English, German, and Russian in the evenings. Radio Sweden’s programs in Swedish will no longer be heard on FM.The current situation, where staff cannot hear the day’s broadcast when it first goes out, will continue. (A proposal to make this programming available over the Internet so we can listen to ourselves live has been rejected by the Nya medier department.)Moreover, the remaining relays of the BBC World Service, National Public Radio, Radio Canada International, and other international stations, recently shrunk to 11:00 PM to 5:00 AM, will disappear completely. Instead, during the night 89.6 MHz will simulcast with P2.This would not seem to save funding or resources (beyond wear and tear on a satellite receiver), and means the same programming will be on two channels, one powerful (P2) and one (P6) with a much smaller coverage area, totally within the other transmitter’s coverage area. One argument for removing the international relays may be the easy access to such programming today over the Internet, a situation which did not exist when the P6 channel was created.The FM transmitter was originally put on the air on 89.6 MHz so that Radio Sweden personnel could hear our own programming, with service to the international community in Stockholm as a secondary bonus. From initially having control over the frequency 24 hours a day, under the proposal Radio Sweden programs would apparently be reduced to 90 minutes a day.The proposal has to be approved by the Swedish Radio Board, which means the current chairman of the board, Ove Joanson, will be forced to take a position on dismantling the P2 all classical music channel he created when he was Director General.(Source: R Sweden/Media Scan/Sweden Calling DXers)

Alan Freeman CBE, one of the UK’s best-loved broadcasters, has died peacefully at his London home after a brief illness.Alan was born in Melbourne, Australia in 1927 and came to Britain in 1957. He enjoyed almost 50 years as one of the UK’s greatest champions of music-makers across the widest possible range of musical genres.Back in 1961 he launched the concept of his listeners as “pop pickers” and when his desire to expand his musical constituency took him into rock music he addressed his new audience as “music lovers”. His final broadcasts focused on his beloved world of opera, presenting Their Greatest Bits for BBC Radio 2 from 1997 until 2001.Apart from the BBC, for whom he presented the weekly chart countdown “Pick of the Pops” for many years, he also had spells working for Radio Luxembourg, Capital Radio and Virgin Radio. He was also known around the world for his broadcasts on the BBC World Service.From February 2000 Alan lived happily at Twickenham’s Brinsworth House, operated by The Entertainment Artistes’ Benevolent Fund. This “home from home” gave him some of his happiest times as his physical abilities declined.(Source: BBC Press Office/R Netherlands Media Network Weblog)

Monday, November 27, 2006

75th OF VATICAN RADIO: SPECIAL SERIES OF 5 POSTCARDSOn 12 Oct. 2006 the Postal Service of Vatican City emitted a special series of five postcards with cancellations to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Vatican Radio.

The five postcards reproduce the pictures of Guglielmo Marconi and all the Pope's that have spoken to the microphones of Vatican Radio.Additional info and pictures of all postcards are available on http://swli05639fr.blogspot.com/(Source: Francesco Cecconi/HCDX)

External broadcaster China Radio International (CRI) launched a local FM relay service in Vientiane, the Laotian capital, on Sunday 19 November 2006. Transmitting on 93.0 MHz, the service is on the air between 1000 and 2230 hours local time (0300-1530 gmt) with programmes in Laotian, English and Mandarin.The service is also available on a live audio stream from the broadcaster’s website at www.cri.cn, accessible from both the English page and the Laotian page. The latter page also offers an on-demand audio archive of CRI’s programmes in Laotian.State-owned China Radio International produces 392 hours of programming in 43 languages daily, broadcasting around the world by shortwave, mediumwave, FM, satellite and the Internet.(Source: BBC Monitoring research, in English 1650 gmt 26 Nov 06/ R Netherlands Media Network Weblog)

Radio Havana Cuba, Dxers Unlimited, Nov 21-22, 2006Here is now item one of today's program: Lost of e-mail messages commenting about reception on 6180 kHz, the frequency that we are using now to CeNoAmerica starting at 0000 hours UTC, is on the air with our Spanish language magazine show's first broadcast hour.

At 0100 hours UTC we start the first run of our English language program to NoAmerica and the Caribbean. The first re-run is on the air from 0300 to 0500 hoursUTC, and the final English language transmission is on the air from 0500to 0700 hours UTC.Also related to our B-06 schedule.

More changes will be coming upstarting on Nov 22 Wednesday UTC day, and they will make possible receiving our Spanish language morning show. "Despertar con Cuba", that is"Waking up with Cuba", with much better signals in NoAmerica after 1300 hours UTC, as we will be using frequencies on the 19 and 22 meters band during the last two hours of our four hours Spanish language magazine show.

The new frequencies will be 15370 kHz, again, slowly for you to beable to write them down, one five three seven zero, 15370 kHz on the 19mb, starting at 1300 hours UTC and until 1500 hours UTC, and the other frequency after 1300 hours UTC is going to be 13680 kiloHertz on the 22mb, they will both be broadcasting in Spanish to NoAmerica, as we have developed a very large and faithful audience in Canada, the USA and Northern Mexico for our "Despertar con Cuba" morning program.(Arnie Coro-CUB CO2KK, hcdx Nov 21)(Source: WWDXC-Top News, BC DX#783)

MYANMARI heard Myanmar Radio which is called MRTV-3 from sign-on at 0030 UTC until around 0130 UTC (fade out) on 7185 kHz on 10th Nov with a weak signal and Myanma music and speech by female announcer in local language. Best reception at around 0100 UTC. As the same program was on the web live stream, I can confirm it was Myanmar. The accentuation of the Bamar/Myanma language ist rather unique, so easy to distinguish.

On the web live stream frequencies are announced at the beginning of the English language programs.

So I combined following schedule (after monitoring the live stream)0030-0200 7185 Myanmar language0200-0245 7185 English, then break until 03300330-0700 9730 Myanmar language0700-0730 9730 English, then break until 09300930-1430 5985 Myanmar language1430-1600 5985 English

In earlier top-news I found listeners to confirm 9730 on 9731 kHz and 5985 on 5986 kHz. But the early morning program I heard on exact 7185. Are there others who heard Myanmar radio on these frequencies. I never traced them on 9730 in the morning. 5985 is absolutely impossible here in Germany due to DRM. (DRM LUX on 5990)(Udo Krueger-D, wwdxc BC-DX Nov 11)(Source: WWDXC-Top News, BC DX#783)

Sunday, November 26, 2006

by Doreen CarvajalInternational Herald TribuneFor generations of listeners, the Voice of America and its crackling international shortwave broadcasts are heirloom memories of huddling around radios to mark the Allied landing at Normandy or the toppling of the Berlin Wall.Today, the VOA headlines are delivered as mobile phone news alerts, satellite television shows or Webcasts streamed over the Internet. But the 64-year-old international broadcasting service of the U.S. government is still searching for relevance with a brand new director and an increasingly fierce market with rivals from commercial networks to public broadcasters jostling for global influence."I'm afraid that I'm not listening to Voice of America," confessed a participant from Madras, India, last week in the VOA's own global open forum on international broadcasting. "The shortwave is not so good, so I've switched over to NPR on satellite."Last month, the VOA service - which reaches about 115 million people weekly in 44 languages - received fresh leadership after the abrupt departure of its director, David Jackson, a former Time magazine foreign correspondent, and the appointment of Danforth Austin.Austin, 60, is a former chief executive of Ottaway Newspapers, a community newspaper subsidiary of Dow Jones. He was appointed to the top spot by the Broadcasting Board of Governors, a politically appointed group.In his first few weeks in his new post, Austin said during an interview, he was hoping to bring his organizational skills to bear on an institution that has been buffeted in the past year by proposed budget cuts and plans to reduce English-language programming to divert resources to Arabic-language services."There is a proliferation of media, and it's not just government-funded services," he said. "How could the United States not want a broadcast service in the midst of all that, which keeps and maintains the kind of journalistic values that really reflects who we are as a country?"Austin is a newcomer to international broadcasting, although he worked outside the United States on short-term assignments as a reporter. He said that the notion of taking over the VOA from its Washington headquarters was "not on my radar screen" because he had just taken a retirement package from Dow Jones in March."I was contemplating taking some time off, reading. I've done some work for charity kinds of things and then through an acquaintance who knows one of the governors on the board, they asked me if I had any interest in the Voice of America," Austin said.Given his newness, Austin's plans for the VOA remain largely vague and general beyond trying to make sure that the news agency is responsive to its audiences. "For some people, shortwave radio is and will remain very important," he said. "For others, it's through television and the Internet."He added: "We look at markets. We decide what to provide based on what those audiences want and how they use information."Critics, though, complain that the VOA is an institution that is too slow-moving and hampered by its strategy of issuing government editorial newscasts on topics ranging from President George W. Bush on Iran's "intransigence" to Donald Rumsfeld, the secretary of defense, on the pursuit of nuclear weapons in North Korea and Iran.Jonathan Marks, a radio consultant and former executive at the international broadcaster Radio Netherlands, is among those critics. "Don't you think that John Stewart on YouTube has more impact on the way people see America than anything VOA could muster on radio or TV?" he asked.He complained that the VOA's Now 24/7 program in English has been nicknamed "VOA Now and Then" because of reduced programming. "Both times that Saddam Hussein has been world news with his capture and death sentence, VOA English has been off the air," Marks said. "To be fair, its radio in Arabic and Farsi was running."With control of the U.S. Congress shifting to the Democrats, many VOA employees and supporters are hoping that reductions in the $166 million annual budget will be restored to avoid further cuts in English-language programming. As it is, VOA continues to offer slower-paced "special English" programs to reach non-native English speakers.Ted Lipien, a Voice of America employee who retired last April as a marketing director for Europe and Asia, created FreeMediaOnline.org, a foundation to support independent journalism. He is lobbying against some VOA cuts."They have focused on the Middle East and taken money away from programming for other regions," he said. "Once your audience goes down, it creates a vicious circle." He added, "The soft power of information and news is grossly under-appreciated."To a certain extent, though, the VOA is facing some of the cold realities of the end of the Cold War. Simon Spanswick, chief of the Association of International Broadcasters, said the VOA has taken the approach that "it's not worth trying to compete in saturated markets with highly competitive broadcasters."(Source: International Tribune/Kevin Redding/Cumbre DX)

Saturday, November 25, 2006

BBC Monitoring observed a new clandestine radio broadcasting in Persian on shortwave 7435 kHz at 1700-1800 gmt on Friday 24 November 2006, identifying as “Radyo Democrasi Shora’i” [Radio Council Democracy].The full opening announcement was translated as follows: “You are listening to the Voice of the Council Democracy. Radio Council Democracy is the voice of the workers, proletariat, women and all the oppressed people who are fighting for freedom and socialism”.A website address was given near the end of the broadcast, http://www.radioshora.org/. This Persian-language site features an on-demand audio archive of their broadcasts.Shortwave airtime broker www.airtime.be/schedule.html lists this broadcast on this frequency at this time on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday.(Source: BBC Monitoring research in English 24 Nov 06/R Netherlands Media Network Weblog)

Azerbaijan National Council for Television and Radio has passed a decision to shut down ANS TV and ANS CM Radio, Council chairman Nushiravan Maharramli told APA in an exclusive interview. He said that a meeting was convened today in order to decide the ANS’s licence prolongation. The Council members made the final decision to not prolong ANS’s licence, saying it violated Article 22.4 of the Broadcasting Law (many warnings and sanctions during activities).According to the decision, ANS TV and ANS Radio were due to be closed at 1500 local time today. Maharramli insisted that if ANS ignores the decision made by the Council, the decision will be executed by law enforcement bodies. He also added the frequency of ANS will be put in auction.ANS President Advisor Mais Mammadov told APA that they have not yet received the written form of the decision. He said that they have been told that ANS made serious irregularities and shortcomings in its activities. Mammadov said they will appeal against the decision.(Source: Azeri-Press Information Agency - APA/R Netherlands Media Network Weblog)

The National Museum in Prague has received confirmation that it will be able to expand into the former Czechoslovak parliament building when Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty moves out. Our colleagues at Radio Prague have the full story at: http://www.radio.cz/en/article/85550(R Netherlands media Network Weblog)

Radio Sweden has today published the following statement on its website:Radio Sweden’s broadcasts on our European channel of 6065 kHz are once again suffering interference from Iran.In violation of international custom, Radio Tehran [IRIB] has begun using the frequency we have used to more than 60 years. The interference occurs during the evening, and primarily affects listeners in southern Europe, but parts of central Europe are also affected at times.Since the lower shortwave bands are currently very crowded there are no free frequencies where can broadcast our English programs in parallel with 6065 kHz. Instead, listeners should try our medium wave channel of 1179 kHz, where we broadcast in English at 18:0 and 22:30 hrs daily and at 20:00 hrs UTC daily except Sundays.(Source: Radio Sweden/R Netherlands Media Network Weblog)

Well, September and October were really useless for tropo in these parts.....but November has stepped up and saved the day!!!

The past ten days or so has seen some decent tropo openings..and the past three-four days has been exceptional!!! Tropo in all directions during this time. Not huge distances....but good solid openings with lots of new stuff.....with most of the time spent DX'ing digital TV. Added a pile of new stations on digital TV including my first VHF digital WKYC 2 Cleveland, Ohio. Also logged my 500th TV station during this opening!!!

My buddy, Al Putman lives a few miles south of me and also belongs to WTFDA....we have been DX'ing together using 2 Meters simplex as a communication link, and helped each other log a few new ones with timely tips. Al also logged a pile of digital TV stuff during this big opening. He actually did much better than me!!Loggings from the past 10 days:

Hi All Listeners,Just a short note to confirm that our programs on IRRS Shortwave and European Gospel Radio are back on the air as of Friday Nov.24th, 2006.We hope that the upgrade of our station and the additional power will help provide a better, louder signal in our targets.Here is our schedule effective Nov. 24, 2006. More broadcasts will be added in the next few weeks: FREQ UTC UTC CET CET TARGET START STOP START STOPFri 15750 12.00 13.00 13.00 14.00 W/AFR Fri 5775 17.00 19.30 18.00 20.30 EU Sun 9310 10.30 13.00 11.30 14.00 EU Sun 15735 13.00 13.30 14.00 14.30 India Sun 5775 15.00 16.00 16.00 17.00 EU Sun 5775 17.00 19.30 18.00 20.30 EUAll programs also available 24/7 via streaming audio at:http://mp3.nexus.org and http://www.egradio.orgAs usual we appreciate all reception reports, comments and questionsvia email to reports@nexus.org or by snail mail at the addresses that youcan hear on the air. Happy Thanksgiving week-end to those in the USA and happy listening to all.Ron

Dear Dxers.All India Radio Chennai's 46th week of Vanoli Ulagam (Radio World) program will broadcast on 26 November 2006 (Sunday).The Content of the program is like this.In the first segment listeners letters from around the world.In the second part, 'Radio History' contains History of Voice of Armenia with their Signature Tunes.In the third part 'Radio Today' contains, ARTI Top ten contest details, BBC Contest details, AIB Award details.The fourth part with the DX Logging in English.The fifth segment for DX Book review: In this week edition, we give the details about the "Technical Handbook for the Radio Monitoring".In the six part of that day program, we give the detail reviews from www.monitor.bbc.co.uk Those who are want to get the special limited edition World Smallest QSL card (6x3.5CM), 25th week commemorative sticker, 2007 Calender, book mark, smallest greeting card and pennant, send your Reception Report with 1 New IRC to the following address.Indian listener must send Rs.10/- mint stamps for return QSL. Do not send the US $N.C. GnanaprakasamProgram ExecutiveVanoli UlagamThiraikadal Adaivaram Thamiizh NaathamAll India RadioKamarajar Salai Chennai600004Tamilnadu, IndiaThe schedule of the Tamil DX Program 'Vaanoli Ulagam' (Radio World) is as follows:Sundays between 1115-1215 UTC (for about 15 minutes)To Sri Lanka :1053 kHz Tuticorin (200 kw)15050 Khampur, Delhi (250 kw)17860 New Delhi (100 kw)7270 Chennai (Avadi) (100 Kw)To SE Asia:13610 Bangalore (500 kw)15770 Aligarh (250 kw)17810 Panaji (250 kw)

VOA Launches New Program in Mozambique on HIV/AIDS:PRESS RELEASE -Washington, D.C., November 22, 2006: The Voice of America's (VOA) Portuguese-to-Africa service launches a new, youth-oriented, radio program on HIV/AIDS aimed at audiences in Mozambique on December 2, 2006.The show, Vida Sem Medo (Life Without Fear), is a 30-minute weekly program that focuses on the prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS. The show will be produced in Mozambique and broadcast from Washington."We plan to include news and information about medical and social aspects of HIV/AIDS," said Ana Guedes, chief of VOA's Portuguese-to-Africa service. "Our show will feature stories and interviews from across the country."Regular radio dramas produced by the Grupo Teatral Ntiyiso and call-in segments with a medical doctor are part of the regular programming.The program will be distributed across Mozambique by FM affiliates in the major cities, and on shortwave frequencies 909 KHZ/33 meter band; 21590 KHZ/13 meter band, and 18985 KHZ/15 meter band. It will air on Saturday and Sunday from 1200-1230 (Maputo time). VOA Portuguese is available at http://www.voanews.com/portuguese/

China Radio International (CRI) has begun a continuous local DRM service to London on its own dedicated channel via the trial 26 MHz service operated by WRN, the London-based broadcast and transmission services company. This collaboration follows a recent visit by the President of CRI, Wang Gengnian, to WRN.CRI’s DRM service to London is broadcasting a mix of English and Chinese programming that comes live from its studios in Beijing. WRN’s 26MHz service provides CRI with complete DRM broadcast coverage of Greater London and it is being transmitted from the well known Croydon transmission tower, situated in South London and which is operated by Arqiva, WRN’s DRM transmission partner for this project. Arqiva provides transmission services for most UK commercial radio stations. Croatia’s RIZ-Transmitters has supplied the Yagi antenna and transmitter for the duration of the project.Xia Jixuan, Vice-President of CRI says, "We are very excited that CRI is now broadcasting its programming on the new medium of DRM in London. The goal of CRI is to inform the world about China and we are pleased to offer the people of London a wide range of our programming. Beijing and London will both host future Olympic Games and it will be very interesting for there to be a mutual dialogue conducted through CRI".(Source: WRN via Association for International Broadcasting via R Netherlands Media Network Weblog/Md. Azizul Alam Al-Amin, Bangladesh)

The Association for International Broadcasting [AIB] announced the winners of its second annual global awards at a glamorous gala event in London last night. Attended by senior executives, producers and journalists from TV and radio channels from five continents, the AIB Awards event rewarded the very best programmes and channels for international audiences across television and radio.The Awards event was hosted by Barbara Serra, one of the London anchors of newly-launched Al Jazeera International, and more than 100 guests celebrated the success of their colleagues from around the world.There were nine categories in the 2006 AIB Awards, covering television, radio and technology; over 100 entries were received from international broadcasters in 20 countries, as well as a number of innovative technology suppliers who support international TV and radio stations. The Award winners were:Best coverage of a single news event - radio:BBC World Service for South Asian Earthquake -described by the judges as "most impressive in every respect"Best coverage of a single news event - television:Sky News for London bombings - "good content with excellent context for cross-border viewers"Best magazine or documentary programme- television:Al Jazeera Channel [NB: the Arabic service not the newly-launched English-language service] for Prisoner 345 - "content, suitability for international audience and production values all very high"Best magazine or documentary programme- radio:BBC World Service for Assignment- Return to Sarajevo - "stunningly vivid, extraordinarily powerful, impeccably produced"Most innovative use of technology:Link Research for Link HD - "the future for news and sports coverage"International channel of the year - television:BBC World - "excellent coverage of stories, high presentation values"International station of the year - radio:SW Radio Africa - "brave, an excellent independent alternative to Zimbabwe’s state media"International presenter of the year - television:Simon Hobbs of CNBC Europe -"polished, passionate, enthused"International presenter of the year - radio:Doug Bernard of Voice of America’s Talk to America - "intelligent presentation and questioning, very polished, with a smile in his voice"The AIB Awards were judged by international panels drawn from the broadcasting industry- ensuring peer review of programming - as well as radio and TV critics, representing the audience’s perspective. Completely non-commercial, the AIB Awards are the only celebration of success that exclusively focuses on international, cross-border broadcasting."The AIB Awards provide a fantastic opportunity for the Association to provide a platform not only to celebrate success but also to share ideas," said Simon Spanswick, AIB chief executive. "The international broadcasting industry is often more innovative and fleet of foot than its domestic counterparts, and the Awards demonstrate the breadth of superb content that’s on offer to viewers and listeners throughout the world. We were delighted with the range and quality of the entries which made judging extremely tough. Our judges are to be congratulated on all their work, as are the winners and finalists tonight."(Source: Association for International Broadcasting via Media Network Weblog/ Md. Azizul Alam Al-Amin, Bangladesh)

BBC World Service has appointed Vineeta Dwivedi as India Business Development Manager. Based in Delhi, she will be in charge of the broadcaster’s multimedia distribution and business development activities in India. Vineeta will be responsible for developing the distribution of BBC World Service output in India across a range of platforms including FM, broadband, DTH channel distribution system, mobile phones, satellite radio and TV. She will also manage FM partnerships following the recent BBC partnership with the Mid-Day Group and the Radio One network.Vineeta joined BBC World Service in 2001 and worked in a range of editorial and production roles before getting involved with the growing business development team in 2005. Prior to joining the BBC, she worked for the Press Trust of India.Michel Lobelle, Head of Business Development for the Asia/Pacific Region, said: “The BBC intends to be at the heart of the current radio renaissance in India. It’s a very exciting time indeed, and we aim to further expand our presence across key platforms in India. Vineeta will play a crucial role in this expansion.”(Source: BBC World Service via Media Network Weblog/ Md. Azizul Alam A- Amine, Bangladesh)

The RF noise that I have been dealing with for the past 6 weeks prompted me to purchase a Radio Shack 12 VDC so I could take my Icom R75 on it's first mini-Dxpedition, with the intention of logging some interference-free DX.

I left the house Thanksgiving morning at 0900 (4 AM-EST), armed with both DX and cold weather supplies. I arrived at my destination, Sugar Hill Overlook, on the scenic Kancamagus Highway in the heart of the White Mountain National Forest. After getting the antenna and receiver situated I was ready for DX, just shy of 1000 UTC.

I didn't hear anything more or less than what I normally would DXing from home., but what I did hear appeared to be "cleaner". A few Peruvians were booming in early and Suriname was putting out the best signal I have ever logged from them. Indonesia and SE Asia were sub-par at best during local sunrise. Perhaps with a longer antenna (I used a 150' long wire on thisoccasion) coupled with either an attenuator or impedance matcher, would produce better results. The real hi-lite of the session was the moose that appeared shortly after sunrise, 25 feet to my left, and hung around the overlook for a half-hour!

Wednesday, November 22, 2006

With this being America's Thanksgiving holiday week, I am taking a few days off from blogging, to enjoy friends and family at this special time. Therefore, there will be no postings on the MT Shortwave Central blog, Thursday or Friday. November 23 and 24th.Thanks very much and have a blessed time where ever you are.Gayle Van Horn

The following logging observations represent some of what is being heard from Indonesia. Don't pass up this excellent time of the year to monitor stations from here.Gayle VH

INDONESIA Hearing an Indonesian station at 1410 UT Nov 11 on 3995 kHz. Is this a reactivated station?? Anything reported recently?? Nothing on 3995 though, in past lists that I can remember of. (Victor Goonetilleke-CLN 4S7VK, DXplorer Nov 12)

The station on 3995 is RRI Kendari, which I logged here in June 2006, and many times since. They put a good signal into Colorado almost every morning (1300-1400 UTC), with occasional QRM from Amateurs. The exact frequency is 3995.04, ex-4000.18, apparently. Good DX to you - always enjoy seeing your loggings and comments! (John Wilkins-CO-USA (N0AXM), DXplorer Nov 13)

3344.76 RRI Ternate (pres) 1324-1424+ Nov 11. Vocal music with YL announcer speaking in Bahasa Indonesia after each selection; at 1400 switched to talk program with male and female announcers. Fairly good signal at 1345 peak, with slow deterioration afterward. The talk was still going on at 1424 tune-out. If this is Ternate, they apparently have reverted to their off-frequency habits after spending a few months on or near nominal 3345. Prior to that they were on 3344.84 kHz for a long time. (John Wilkins-CO-USA, DXplorer Nov 12)4605 RRI Serui on Nov 9 at 1031-1115 UT. 43443 Talk, news and music in Indonesian and English.ID at 1102 as Radio Republik Indonesia, Serui. (Kyoshiro Ishizaki-JPN, JPNpremium Oct 17)

AWR will cancel its German shortwave transmission on May 25. At present it's 1600-1630 (UTC) via Moosbrunn on 6015 kHz, and in fact this is a fragment of a round-the-clock satellite program now, just like TWR German on shortwave which to myknowledge is merely a relay of Evangeliums-Rundfunk as heard on satellite, also available via our local cable net here because some interested people put continuous pressure on the mom & pop company running the system. Not that any of these gentlemen would be interested in shortwave or 1539reception, I guess they not even know that such things exist at all.

Noteworthy also this statement in a FAQ on the AWR German website, thothey would certainly no longer put it up there anymore, since they have apparently done with shortwave now:"Is it worth to purchase a shortwave radio? Yes, if reception via satellite, Internet or cable will be not possible for you in the short or medium term. Beyond that it is impossible at present to say anything about further developments and changes in the field of classical shortwave transmissions."http://www.hopechannel.de/hope-channel/faq/empfang-mit-radiogeraet/#c47(Source: WWDXC Top News)

There have been a couple of bulletins released by the USPS related to IRCs. In mid-August, USPS advised post offices to stop selling the IRCs that expire in December 2006 as of1 September 2006 (some post offices are, apparently, are still selling them).

Last week, there was another bulletin that modified the USPS International Mail Manual to allow non-USA pre-2002 IRCs to be exchanged for stamps through the end of 2006. I posted the location of the latest bulletin, related to exchanging the non-USA pre-2002 IRCs, and now I have made smaller PDF files with both of these bulletins.Subject to bandwidth limitations on my free Geocities webspace, you may download these PDFs from: www.geocities.com/va7ewk/usps/(Source: Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK/www.wd9ewk.net/DX-QSL via L Van Horn)

Subject: My Chinese Dream Essay Competition from China Radio International

Everybody has a dream, and a place where one pursues that dream, or a place where one realizes that dream.If that place for you is China, your dream is called a Chinese dream, and you are the kind of person we are looking for.We sincerely invite you to join our essay competition called "My Chinese Dream," and share with us your experiences in China and with Chinese people. You can write your own story, or see yourself as a witness of other people's dreams coming true, telling their stories.

Not that all stories have to be true and make sense. Plagiarism is strictly prohibited.We welcome stories written in either English or Chinese. Each individual can submit only one story.The competition begins November 15, and the deadline for sending in your story is December 8, 2006.

Please email your work, along with your mailing address and contact phone number, to contest@crifm.com. You are likely to win special gifts for participating.Disclaimer: "My Chinese Dream" essay competition is jointly sponsored by the People's Daily Online,Xinhuanet, China.org.cn, CRI Online,Chinadaily.com.cn, CCTV.com, youth.cn, ce.cn,sina.com, and sohu.com. The final winners will beannounced on December 18, 2006.(Source: http://english.cri.cn/3100/2006/11/14/271@162701.htm / Jaisakthivel Chennai, India/R. Baughn)

There's still time for DXers to participate in the ODXA DX Challenge....so don't wait. For complete details about the contest, please refer to: http://www.odxa.on.ca/dxchallenge/

We challenge you to hear 50+ countries on the shortwave broadcast bands! We also challenge you to hear provinces, states and countries on Mediumwave!

The DX Challenge calls to listeners again this year to hear as many countries on the SW bands as possible--as well as the challenge to hear as many provinces, states and countries as possible in the world of mediumwave listening! Here are the rules for the SW DX Challenge and the MW DX Challenge.

Eligibility:The DX Challenge is open to any shortwave and/or mediumwave listener. Any radio capable of receiving AM or SSB signals between 0 and 30 MHz is acceptable. Please ensure that a clearly legible return name and address are included with all submissions. Submitted logs and results become the property of the ODXA, so please use copies of your original logs for submission.(ODXA)

North Korea's, Voice of Korea, the external broadcasting service of the DPR Korea (North) from Pyongyang, is using a new rendition of the National Anthem from today (09 Nov 2006) at the beginning of each program after the interval signal ("Song of General KIM IL SUNG") and station announcements.

The new rendition sounds more solemn and lasts a little longer while the old one was slightly more forceful. The Korean programming (Korean Central Broadcasting Station [KCBS] and Pyongyang Broadcasting Station PBS]) still use the old version as they are independently organised.(Source: OM Arnulf Piontek, Berlin, Germany/HCDX)

The UK, US and China had all been put on notice, Assistant InformationMinister Koigi wa Wamwere said."If we are allowing BBC to broadcast in Kenya, KBC (Kenya BroadcastingCorporation) should also be in London," Mr Wamwere said at a state function.He said a refusal to reciprocate would be treating Kenyans "like idiots".The BBC has some 12 million listeners in Kenya - with about half that numberlistening in Swahili.(BBC/HCDX)

Our DRM transmission in English from Montsinery on 15425 kHz beamed to North America is now back on the air. The official start time for this transmission is now 2202 UTC, to allow time to turn the rotatable antenna from one direction to another.Our DRM transmission in English from Montsinery on 15425 kHz beamed to North America is now back on the air. The official start time for this transmission is now 2202 UTC, to allow time to turn the rotatable antenna from one direction to another.(Source: R Netherlands Media Network Weblog)

Thanks very much to Guy Atkins for sharing his loggings and observations from his recent trip to Puerto Vallarta. Great location, Guy!Gayle VH

It was my first trip out of the country (other than visits to nearby Canada) since my 1993 travels toRarotonga. The newest post at www.sdr-1000.blogspot.com has a couple of photos of Puerto Vallarta and a few additional comments.¡Degen Si, Flex-Radio No! On this trip, I had opportunity to tune around onmy small Degen DE1103 receiver, before and after local sunrise. I could onlydream of taking the SDR-1000 and laptop computer along, but it was out ofthe question. I nearly took an Eton E1 instead of the Degen, but I didn'twant to risk losing such a nice receiver to possible loss, theft, or damage.The antenna used with the DE1103 was an 80-foot random wire, strung atop alow row of bushes. It was an idyllic setting beneath palm trees, situatedbetween large swimming pools complete with waterfalls and islands, and thePacific Ocean literally 20 feet away on the other side.Even before the sun rose above the jungle-covered mountains to the east, the tropical bands collapsed abruptly; no slow fadeout like I'm accustomed to inthe Northwest USA. Within 10-15 minutes after sunrise the tropicals weregone, and the 31 and 25 meter bands came alive. The rapid change inconditions each morning seemed to skip 41 and 49 meters; only a few signalswere noted.25 meters was amazing-- like flipping a switch after sunrise, it came alivewith mostly Arabic and sub-contintental signals! A majority of them werestrong to very strong. I did not bring a WRTH or Passport with me, just aprintout of the DSWCI's Tropical Band Monitor, and the Pacific Asian Log(PAL) for references. So, without clear IDs I was just guessing at thesource of most signals on 25 meters. It was quite a kick to hear thelanguages and music from (or broadcast to) the Middle East and India... acompletely different band and propagation conditions than I've everexperienced for 25 meters. Trans-Pacific MW was nearly unheard. I don't know if it was conditions, mylocation, or the modest receiver. Other than a weak hets on a few splitfrequencies and weak audio on 1566, nothing of note was logged. The local Puerto Vallarta MW stations are a real circus of over-processed andsplattering signals all trying to out-shout one another; much worse than theUSA broadcast band scene, in my opinion. I found quite a few 2X and 3Xharmonics of locals appearing in the tropical bands (two are noted below). As elsewhere in Central America, many of the broadcast towers I saw areperched atop modest downtown Puerto Vallarta buildings.I was surprised to find the local noise levels so low; I'd expected difficulty with RFI from powerlines, PCs, appliances, etc., but thebackground level on all bands was low. Each day as the sun rose in the early morning sky, distractions in the formof bikini-clad ladies began to appear. Such is the life of a visiting DXer in Puerto Vallarta! The view from Google Earth: If you have the Google Earth program on your computer, try these coordinates to see the exact DXing spot: 20E37'29.91"N105E13'55.25"W

On to the bandscan...

PAPUA NEW GUINEA: I was very surprised to find *no* hint of the PNG stations at all, from the 11th through the 13th. I was monitoring prior to 1200 UTC(when they should still be on the air), but nothing was heard on the usualfrequencies, not even on the 4890 kHz national outlet (NBC Port Moresby).120

METER BAND AUSSIES: The usual three stations here were weak but audibleon the 11th and 12th, and quite a bit stronger on the morning of the 13th.3240 - 3 X 1080 kHz harmonic noted each morning, plus a spur on 3270. 1080kHz was very strong, so I presume a local Puerto Vallarta station, just like1110 kHz.

3325 R. Nikkei, Japan - strong as ever! I expected a weaker signal than theflamethrower reception we get of Nikkei in the Pacific Northwest USA, but Iwas wrong. It was just booming in each morning while in PV.

3330 - 3 x 1110 kHz harmonic noted on 3330 each morning, at a strong level.I did not catch the callsign, but the promo was "La K Buena", and wasparallel to 1110 kHz. Probably a network, though, as I heard a quick stringof "X..." callsigns given at the top of the hour.

3976 RRI Pontianak, Indonesia - Poor to fair signal at 1210 on 11/11, butimproving to good by 1336. Also heard 11/13 with a good signal and ID at1322.

4557 Anti-Imperialist National Democratic Front, Haeju, N. Korea (pres.) -Elaborate Korean style orchestral music on 11/13, and male with announcementin Korean at 1328. Fair to good signal, and into a radio drama.

4780 R. Cultural Coatan, Guatamala - Strong signal each night, much betterthan I've ever heard them in Washington state. On 11/11, I noted them with achildren's choir signing Christmas hymns (I guess the season comes early to Guatemala) and IDs at 1225. Coatan was still in audio at 1410 (about 50minutes past local SR).

4800 CODAR "Swisher" - I was surprised to hear this annoying signal in the60 meter band, just like we hear it in Washington. My guess is that I washearing a CODAR transmitter from somewhere along the southern California coast. The one we note in the Pacific Northwest is almost certainly nearinfamous "Washaway Beach", a stretch of seaside land with a rapidly erodingcoastline, some miles south of the Grayland DXpedition site. Scientists usethe CODAR system to monitor beach erosion and changes.

4810 XERTA, Mexico - poor under the CODAR signal on 11/11; ID at 1229 withphone number. Noted at very good strength, though, 1345-1415+.

4819 HRVC, Honduras - Fair signal 11/11 with IDs at 1231.

4895 Unid. - strange, quickly repeating and distorted audio loop of Asiantonal language by female, noted at 1225 on 11/11. I suspect a Chinese orNorth Korean jammer here, but I have no idea who they might be targeting.

4940 V. of the Strait, China - heard in Chinese mixing with presumed R. SanAntonio, Peru, in Spanish, on 11/12 at 1310. Fair.

5010 AIR Thiruvanathapuram, India - Female talk in Hindi, and sub-cont.flute music at 1345 on 11/13. Poor.5020 AIR Delhi, India - Male announcer with commentary in English aboutIndian politics, noted at 1350 on 11/13. No sign of Solomon Islands BBC relay, not even a het.

9440 R. Slovakia International, Slovakia - Amazingly strong signal on 11/11!Interval signal and ID in English and Russian at 1400, and then into Russianprogramming.

11620 All India Radio, India - Noted on 11/12 at 1435 with commentary inEnglish by male, and ID. Fair signal.

11735 V. of Turkey, Ankara, 1400-1428* - Superb signal on 11/12 and 13! Iwas just blown away by the practically local quality signal of VOT.Programming was in English, with an announcement as "Our English service to Australia". Turkish language lesson at 1410, about how to tell the doctorwhen you're feeling sick, how to ask for a vaccination, etc. The strong signal was pinning the S-meter on the DE1103 portable. Sign-off at 1428 withinterval signal and ID.(Source: Guy Atkins, WA)

Monday, November 20, 2006

We’re pleased to report that Kim Andrew Elliott, an audience research analyst in the US International Broadcasting Bureau who also writes commentaries for Media Network expressing his personal opinions, is back on the air on Wednesday, 22 November on VOA’s Talk to America, for a discussion of recent developments in international broadcasting. The programme follows the news at 1400 UTC on these shortwave frequencies:To Far East Asia, South Asia and Oceania: 7125 9695 9760 11885 12150 kHzTo Africa: 4930 6080 15580 17715 17895 kHzTo Europe, Middle East and North Africa: 11655 15205 kHzMany frequencies are audible outside the nominal target area. The programme can also be heard via the VOA News Now Windows Media or RealPlayer live audio streams. You can join the conversation by calling +1-202-619-3111 or e-mail to talk@voanews.com.(Source: KimAndrewElliott.com/R Netherlands Media Network Weblog)